A recent report from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) ranks Atlanta third in new HIV infection diagnoses. The Center’s annual HIV Surveillance report, published in March, summarizes information about diagnosed HIV infections in the U.S. in 2021.
Over half of the new cases happen to be people ages 13-24 years old nationwide, with the majority of them being African American.
Imara Canady, the National Director for Community Engagement and Communications at the AIDS Health Foundation (AHF), says people in this age bracket are more experimental around sex and sexuality. AHF and local medical center AID Atlanta are working to develop creative ways to inform residents of this matter.
“HIV care is extremely expensive, and that is where the support of Medicaid expansion is critical to ensuring that not only those living with HIV can get access and the care they need but for those that are living with the critical illness can get access to care that they need and not be burdened by high drug pricing or the cost of care,” Canady said.
States, that refused Medicaid expansion — including Georgia — correlate with new infection rates.
AID Atlanta provides testing, care, prevention, and education for anyone in the Atlanta metro area. Patients can get HIV and STI testing and enroll in a PrEP program and housing and utility assistance for those in need.
DeWayne Ford is the Director of Prevention Services at AID Atlanta. He added that assistance from their community stakeholders and Atlanta residents makes an enormous impact in the fight to reduce the HIV infection rate.
“We want everybody to know everything about HIV,” Ford said. “If they are living with HIV, getting to care if they’re at risk and giving them PrEP until the infection rate is zero and you don’t need us anymore. Until then, we’re here and ready to partner with people who share that mission.”
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